James spear



lpoints which points form the outline of the UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

JAMES SPEAR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR IO HIMSELF AND D. C. ENOS, OF SAME PLAGE.

POST-OFFICE STAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent No.

To all whom 'Lt may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES SPEAK, of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Post-Oiice Stamp, for the purpose of stamping the postmark on letters and envelops, so that the letter contained in the envelop will bear the same postmark as the envelop; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the anneXed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1, represents the stamp in a per# pendicular position. Fig. 2, represents the face of the stamp. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of one of the letters of the stamp A, the body of the type, B, the points or outline of the letter, and Fig. 4 represents an impression of the stamp showing its operation.

To enable others skilled in the arts to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

It is a well known fact to all business men that a large number of the letters received by them are not dated, and even do not contain the name of the State or post town in which the writer resides, these important points having been omitted through carelessness or ignorance on the part of the writer, and in addition to this the post otlice mark is so blurred and imperfect that it is impossible to tell Jfrom what town or State the letter is from, and where to send an answer. In order to prevent this evil I have constructed a stamp or die with numerous line letter, as will be seen in Fig. 3, B, representing the points, so that when the die or stamp is pressed or struck on the letter its points 27,194, dated February 14, 1860.

will pierce the envelop and leave the impression on the letter in a distinct manner as is shown in Fig. 4, the points and letters corresponding with each other. Another important advantage to be gained with this improved stamp is this: should the envelop be destroyed, as is done in most cases on receipt of a letter, the letter will always bear the post mark in a plain and distinct manner, thus always furnishing proof as to the date and place from where it was sent.

Vith this improved mode of stamping letters we avoid all the objections to the present mode of stamping letters herein mentioned.

This stamp may be used with or without ink, and in order to give the stamp force enough, it may be used with a spring handle or may be placed in a frame where a lever can be used, or where a blow from the hand may send it down with sutlicient force as to make a clear and distinct impression. This can be so arranged that it can be raised with a spring the only force required would be to press it down on the letter. In addition to the above described purpose it may be used for other purposes where duplicate copies are required.

Vhat I claim and wish to secure by Letters Patent is l. I claim constructing a stamp or die with letters the outline owhich is composed of fine points constructed in the manner and for the purpose described.

2. I claim stamping letters so that the letter as well as the envelop will bear the post oflice mark in a distinct manner as herein described.

JAMES SPEAR.

Witnesses:

JOHN THOMPSON, WM. J. SMITH. 

